Disney Spending More on Theme Parks Than on Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm Combined
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2018 12:05 pm
With its television business facing significant challenges in the streaming age, and lots of popular movie franchises to put to use, Disney is spending billions to supercharge its theme park division, which has emerged as a surprisingly strong moneymaker. For the 2018 fiscal year, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts had an operating profit of $4.5 billion, an increase of more than 100 percent from five years earlier. For comparison, Disney Media Networks, home to ESPN and ABC, had a profit of $6.6 billion, a 3 percent decline.
Each of Disney’s six theme park resorts around the world is undergoing major expansion, along with Disney Cruise Line. Michael Nathanson, a longtime media analyst, estimates that Disney will spend $24 billion on new attractions, hotels and ships over the next five years. That’s more than Disney paid for Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm combined.
One of the most anticipated additions to Disney World is not a ride. It’s a hotel — one that will have no windows. The still-unnamed property, code-named Project Hubble by Disney Imagineering, will simulate what it might be like to sleep on board a luxury “Star Wars” starship as it zooms through the galaxy. Every window will be a video screen offering a “space view.” Guests will be encouraged to dress in “Star Wars” costumes.
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Each of Disney’s six theme park resorts around the world is undergoing major expansion, along with Disney Cruise Line. Michael Nathanson, a longtime media analyst, estimates that Disney will spend $24 billion on new attractions, hotels and ships over the next five years. That’s more than Disney paid for Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm combined.
One of the most anticipated additions to Disney World is not a ride. It’s a hotel — one that will have no windows. The still-unnamed property, code-named Project Hubble by Disney Imagineering, will simulate what it might be like to sleep on board a luxury “Star Wars” starship as it zooms through the galaxy. Every window will be a video screen offering a “space view.” Guests will be encouraged to dress in “Star Wars” costumes.
Full article